Pneumatic-dispatch system



Feb. 3, 1931. c. H. BURToN PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed June 16, 1930ZSheetS-Sheet l CHA/us5 H Bzfero/v l Patented Feb. 3, 1931 Y ParanaCHARLES H. BUn'roN, or WASHING-fron, nrsrnror on COLUMBIA, AssiGNoR orycnn-x Y HALF To cnaanrs rrsnnn, or NEW Yoan, N. Y.

PNEUM-.TIC-DISPATCI SYSTEM I .Application ilecl June 16,

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic dispatch systems,and more especially to a novel terminal for such systems.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic dispatchterminal so constructed that when a shuttle or carrier arrives `in theterminal, it will operate certain instrumentalities Which Will effectthe movement of a plural cylinder carriage, so that the cylindercontaining the carrier o-r shuttle will be transferred to a dischargestation, While another cylinder Will be brought into position to receivethe next carrier or shuttle.

Another object is to furnish a terminal of this character, in which theCylindercarriage may be shifted Without affecting pressure conditionsexisting in the main trunk through Which the carrier or shutt-letravels` A stillfurther object is to provide aterso minal of this kind,in which the cylinder carriage is automatically reciprocated, so as toalternately bring` each cylinder iirst into alignment With the maintrunk, and then into alignment with a discharge station, and so on.-

25 Another object is to so construct the terminal that the carriers or`shuttles arriving therein automatically operate the control valves of apressure iiuid system which is employed to shift the carriage back andforth. Another object. is to furnish a terminal of this kind, in Whichthe shifting of the carriage automatically opens pressure fluid centrolvalves. which admit a pressure iluid to the cylinders for blowing theshuttle or carrier out of the same on to an unloading platform ortrough. 'y

A further object is to provide a terminal having novel means forchecking the impact when the shuttle arrives in the terminal, and forpreventing the shuttle, due to the rebound,

from passing again int-o the main air trunk.l

With the foregoing objects outlined and With other objects in View whichWill appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in thenovel features hereinafter described in detail, yillustrated in theaccompanying dra-Wings, and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

1;; Referring to the drawings,

1930. Serial No. 461,468.

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of the improved terminal. y

y Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View partly in top plan, of thecarriage shifting cylinder, and its control valve means. v y

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of one of the control valves, takenon the line 1v-1 of F ig. 5.

Fig. 5 -is area-r elevation ofthe trigger operated valves of the device.

Fig." 6 is a vertical transverse sectional ,view on the line 6-6 ofFig.- 1, and With certain parts omitted. l

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal. vertical sectional` View of a detail on theline 7 7 'of Fig. 2.

end of Which is to be connectedr to the terminal end of a pneumaticdispatch trunk, (not shown), the other end of the tube being joined byan air-tight oint, to the cheek plate 11 of a carriage support that ismounted on legs 12. The other cheek platel of this support is connectedto lthe first mentioned cheek plate by tie-rods 14, which tie-rods areomitted in Fig. 2 to facilitate illustration. y I

rl"he cheek plate 11 has a centrally disposed aperture indicated bydotted lines as at 15, While the cheek plate 13 has tWo such apertures16 at its end portions. Horizontal grooves 17 at the upper end of thelegs form transverse tracks for V-shaped guides 18 of acylindercarriage, Which consists of apertured end plates 19 that areconnected together by cylinders 20, and snugly engage cheek platesv 11and 13.

From F ig. 2 it Will be observed that one of the carriage cylinders isinalignment with the tube 10, so that a shuttle from the main trunk Willpass through the tube intothis cyl- In the drawings,10 designates atube, one 1 inder. When the carriage is in this position,

one of the cylinders v2 Will be moved to one f side to bring thesameinto position to dis'- f i' allarga its shuttle on to an unloadingtrough ment withY the pipe 40. Consequently, air will be admitted to thecontrol cylinder 38 to shift the valve 32,-and thereby bring the port 33into alignment with the pipe 33, with the result that air will beadmitted to the cylinder 27 to cause the piston 26 to shift the cylindercarriage in direction away 'from the cylinder 27.V f

As the carriage is shifted to bring one of the cylinders in alignmentwith the trough 22, the carriage will strike the hooked end 70 of theair valve 67, and air will enter the last mentioned cylinderto drive theshuttle on to the unloading trough 2.2,.

At the same time, the other cylinder 20 is brought into such-positionthat its trigger pin 55 comes beneath the :forward end of the lever 52,and then when the next shuttle arrives,the trigger pin 55 will beraised,

-1 so as to elevate the forward end of the lever 52 and depress theactive member of the valve 42, whereby air will travel through the line39 into the opposite end ot' the control cylinder 38, to shift the valve32 and bring the port 3e in alignment with the pipe 29, whereby air willenter the opposite end of the cylinder 27 and return the piston to itsformer position. f

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages ot the invention may be readily understood, and it isapparent that changes may be made in the details disclosed, withoutdeparting from the spiritof the invention, as expressed f in the claims.

l/Vhat is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: y

l. A pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunk tube,unloading` stations arranged out ot alignment with the axis of saidtube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, each one ofwhich is to'be brought tirst into alignment with the tube and then intoalignment with one of the unloading stations, a` shuttle adapted to passfrom the tube into any one of the cylinders, and, means controlled bythe shuttle for shifting said car 1iage.

24A. pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal'trunlr tube, apair of unloading stations arranged at opposite sides of the axis ofsaid tube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, eachone ot which is to be brought lirstinto alignment withV the tube andthen into alignment with one of the unloading stations, a shuttieadapted to pass 'from the tube into any one of the cylinders, meanscontrolled by the shuttle for shitting said carriage, said carriagebeing provided with guides' extending transversely ofthe tube andunloading stations, and traclsfor said guides.k

3. A. pneumatic' dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunlr tube, akpair yoi unloading stations arranged at opposite sides shuttle forshifting said carriage, said carriage comprising apertured cheek platesprovided with guides, the ends oi' the cylinders ref-isterinrr with theapertures of the cheek a o u ttes, and tracks for said 'uides extendinoll 23 transversely of the tube and unloading stations.

e. A pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunk tube, apair of unloading stations arranged at opposite sides of the axis otsaid tube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, 'eachone of which is to be brought lirst into alignment'with the tube and`then into alignment with one of the unloading stations, a shuttleladapted to pass from the tube into any one off the cylinders, and meanscontrolled by the shuttle for shitting said carriage, the control meansfor shitting the carriage comprising triggers extending intothecylinders.

l5. fi pneumatic dispatch terminal coniprising a terminal trunk tube, apair ont unloading stations arranged atopposite sides of the axis ot'said tube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, eachone y of which is to be brought iirst into alignment with the tube andthen intov alignment `with one of the unloading stations, a shuttleadopted to pass from the tube into any one of the cylinders, meanscontrolled by the shuttle for shifting said carriage, and means forabsorbing the shock when the shuttle passes into one of the cylinderswhile it is in alignment with said tube.

6. A pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunk tube, apair oi' unloading stations arranged at opposite sides ot the axis ofsaid tube, a movable carriageprovided with open-ended cylinders, eachone oi which is to be brought first into alignment with the tube andthen into alignment with one oit they unloading stations, a shuttle'adapted to pass from the tube into any one of the cylinders, and meanscontrolled by the shuttle for shifting said carriage, each cylinderbeing provided with a rebound checlr to prevent the shuttle after itai'rivesin the cylinder from rebounding bach into tube.

` 71A pneumatic dispatch. terminal comprising av trunk terminal tube,unloading stations spaced endwise away from an end ot the tube andYpositioned at opposite sides ot the axis of the latter, a cheek platefixed to the last mentioned end oi" the tube and having an aperture inits medial portion, a shuttle adapted to travel' through said tube andto be discharged through said aperture, said cheel: plate projectinglaterally'at opposite sides aligning ot thetube, a pressure i'luidsupply port in e: cn end portion oil the cheelr plate, each portsubstantial alignment with one of l being unloading stations, valvescontro aid ports, shi'ftable carriage arran tween the cheoelr p atc andthe tions and orovideo With a plurality or inders into any one of whichthe shuttle pass from said tube, means tor shitting carriage, thecarriage controlling said valves 's Ward ends ot the unloading stationsand having end apertures in alignment Wit-h said stations, areciprocating carriage provided with apertured cheek plates andcylinders, the apertures of the last mentioned cheelr plat i vith theends of the cylinders, tl e carriage cheek plates snugly engaging thestationary cheelr plates to prevent the escape ot' 'rom any one or" thecylinders when the latter is aligned with the tube, a shuttle adapted totrav l through the tube into any one of the cylinders when the latter isaligned with the tube, and means controlled by the movement or" theshuttle for reciprocating said carriage, whereby cylinder, afterreceiving the shuttle, is shifted out of alignment with the tube andinto alignment With one of the unloading stations.

9. A pneumatic dispatch terminal including a trunk discharge tube,unloading stations spaced endwise from the tube and arranged at oppositesides et' the axis of the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged inspaced relation, one of said cheek plates being secured to the dischargeend of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the othercheek plate being connected to the forward ends of the unloadingstations and having end apertures in alignment with said stations, areciprocating carriage provided with apcrtured cheek plates andcylinders, the apertures ot the last mentioned cheelr plates aligningWith the ends of the cylinders, the carriage cheelr plates snuglyengaging the stationary cheeli plates to prevent the escape of air fromany one ot the cylinders when the latter is aligned With the tube, ashuttle adapted to travel through the tube into any one of the cylinderswhen the latter is aligned with the tube, and means con 'i trolled bythe movement of the shuttle for meuse reciprocating said carriage,whereby a cylinder, after receiving the shuttle, is shifted out ofalignment with the tube and into alignment With one or" the unloadingstations, the last mentioned means including trigger actuated pinsprojecting from the cylinders, and valve controlled levers actuated bythe pins i and supported by one of the stationary cheek plates.

l0. A pneumatic dispatch terminal including a trunk discharge tube,unloading stations spaced endWise from the tube and arranged at oppositesides ot the airis of the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged inspaced relation, one of said cheek plates being secured to the dischargeend of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the othercheek plate being connected to the forwardv ends of the unloadingstations and having end apertures in alignment With said stations, areciprocating carriage provided with apertured cheelr plates andcylinders, the apertures of the last mentioned cheel: plates aligningWith the ends oic the cylinders, the carriage cheek plates snuglyengaging the stationary cheek plates to prevent the escape ot air fromanyone ot the cylinders When the latter is aligned With the tube, ashuttle adapted to travel through the tube into any one ot the cylindersWhen the latter is aligned With the tube, and means controlled by themovement t the shuttle for reciprocating said carriage, whereby acylinder, after receiving the shuttle, is shifted out of alignment Withthe tube and into alignment with one oil the unloading stations, thelast mentioned means including a pair of valves, each valve having anactive member, means connecting said active members to cause one ot thesame to open its respective valve when the other one is closed, a pairof levers pivotally connected to said active members, and triggeractuated elements projecting from the cylinders and arranged to actuatethe last mentioned levers.

ll. A pneumatic dispatch terminal including a trunk discharge tube,unloading stations spaced endwise from the tube and arranged at oppositesides ot the axis ot the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged inspaced relation, one et said cheek plates being secured to the dischargeend of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the othercheek plate being connected to the forward encs of the unloadingstations and having end apertures in alignment With said stations, areciprocating carriage provided With apertured cheek plates andcylinders, the apertures of the Vlast mentioned cheek plates aligningwith the ends of the cylinders, the carriage cheek plates snuglyengaging the stationary cheek plates to prevent the escape of air fromany one of the cylinders When the latter is aligned With the tube, ashuttle adapted to travel through the tube into any one of thecylinderswhen the latter is aligned with the tube, and -means controlledby the movement of the shuttle for reciprocating said carriage, wherebya cylinder, after receiving the shuttle, is shifted' out ot alignmentwith the tube and into alignment with one of the unloading stations, thelast` mentioned means comprising a stationary cylinder, a pistonreciprocating in the last mentionedcylinder, and operatively connectedwith said carriage, means for admitting a pressure luid to opposite endsof said stationary cylinder, and meansl for controlling the admissionand discharge of fluid to and trom the opposite ends of the stationarycylinder.

12. A pneumatic dispatch terminalincluding a trunk discharge tube,unloading stations spaced endwise from the tube andarranged at oppositesides of the axis of the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged inspaced relation, one of said cheek plates being secured to the dischargeend of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the othercheek plate being connected to the forward ends of the unloadingstations and having endk aperthe last mentioned cheek plates aligningwith the ends et' the cylinders,the carriage cheek plates snuglyengaging the stationary cheek c Carriage, f

tlc, is'shilted out of alignment with the tube and into alignment withone of the unloading stations, the last mentioned means comp-rising astationary air cylinder, a reciprocating piston arranged in saidcylinder and operatively connected to the carriage, pipes conn SU nectedto the opposite ends of the air cylinder, i

means for admitting pressure air into said pipes, a control valve forcontrolling the passage of air thropugh pipes, and trigger controlledmeans Ior shitting said valve. Y In testimony whereof I afliX mysignature.

CHARLES H. BURTON,

tures in alignment with said stations, areciprocatmg carriage providedwith apertured cheek plates and cylinders, the aperturesrof the lastmentioned cheek plates aligning with the ends of the cylinders,thefcarriage cheek plates snugly -engaging the stationary cheek platesto prevent the escape of air from any one of the cylinders when thelatter is aligned with the tube, a sliuttleadaptedY to travel throughthe tube into any one of the cylinders when the latter is aligned withthe tube, and means controlled by the movement of the shuttle forreciprocating said carriage, whereby a cylinder, alter receiving theshut-y tle, is shifted out of alignment with the tube i and intoalignment with one of the unloading stations, the last mentioned meansincluding triggers arranged in the cylinders, elements Y actuated by thetriggers and projecting from Ythe exterior of the cylinders, rockinglevers actuated by said elements, valvesactuated by said levers, an aircylinder, a piston in the last mentioned cylinder operatively connectedto the carriage, and means controlled by said' valves for admitting airto and discharging air `trom the opposite ends of the air cylinder. i i

13. A pneumatic dispatch 'terminal includ-l ing a trunk discharge'tube,unloading stations spaced endwise from the tubeand arranged at Yopposite sides of theaxis of the latter, stationary cheel:platesarranged in spaced relation, one of said cheek plates beingsecured to the discharge end of the tube and having a centrally disposedaperture, the other cheek plate being connected to theforward ends of`the unloading station-s and having end aper. tures in alignment kwithsaid stations, a reciprocating carriage provided'with apertured cheekplates and cylinders, the apertures of

